Apparel and attachment system therefor

ABSTRACT

A connecting arrangement for apparel for such as sportswear, casual wear, technical wear and the like, as well as the apparel equipped with such arrangement. The connecting arrangement for apparel includes a first item of apparel including first connecting members and an item of apparel including second connecting members, the second connecting members being complementary to the first connecting members to allow a removable connection of the article of apparel to the first apparel item, the first and second connecting members providing a sliding male/female type connection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a connecting arrangement forapparel such as sportswear, casual wear, technical wear and the like.

[0003] The invention is particularly suitable for attaching a firstapparel item, or an accessory such as a hood, a pocket, a tool, orstorage device or the like, to a particular article of apparel, such asa jacket, pants, etc.

[0004] 2. Description of Background and Relevant Information

[0005] Jackets, especially winter or waterproof jackets, often have ahood to protect the head of the user when atmospheric conditions becomedifficult or severe, such as during the onset of snow, rain, and/orparticularly strong winds.

[0006] However, when the atmospheric conditions improve and the user nolonger needs protection for the head, he/she might desire that the headprotection be removed.

[0007] Thus, hoods are often mounted in a removable manner.

[0008] A commonly used solution consists in providing the rear bottom ofthe hood with connecting elements, such as buttons, snaps, or a slidingzipper, which cooperates with appropriate complementary connectingelements of the jacket.

[0009] Such a connection, however, is not sufficient to provide a goodwaterproof or windproof connection in the front part of the jacket.

[0010] Indeed, when atmospheric conditions are severe, it is importantto have a connection which is as closed as possible around the neck ofthe user, also in the front area.

[0011] Therefore, other attachment means, such as snaps or hook and loopattachment means, such as Velcro attachments, e.g., are often added atthe front part of the hood to provide attachment with an associatedcollar part of the jackets.

[0012] In order to improve the aesthetic aspect of such a connection,some pockets are commonly provided on the collar part of the jacket tohide the attachment means. However, such pockets can render theattachment means difficult to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention achieves an efficient and simple connectingarrangement between a first apparel item and an article of apparel or anaccessory.

[0014] Further, the invention includes a connecting arrangement whichcan be adapted to various types of clothing and particularly which canbe used to removably affix an apparel item, such as a hood, a pocket,accessory etc., to an article of apparel, such as a jacket, a pant, etc.

[0015] Still further, the present invention provides for a removableconnecting arrangement which is aesthetically appealing.

[0016] Therefore, the invention encompasses a connecting arrangement forarticle of apparel, including a first apparel item, comprising firstconnecting members and an article of apparel comprising secondconnecting members, the second connecting members being complementary tothe first connecting members to allow a removable connection of thearticle of apparel to the first apparel item, the first and secondconnecting members providing a sliding male/female type connection.

[0017] In a particular embodiment, the connecting arrangement includes asleeve member with a longitudinal slit, and a rod member that isslidably coupled to the sleeve member for attaching the connectingarrangement together.

[0018] Such connecting arrangement is easy to use and is aestheticallyappealing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] The general nature of the invention having been described above,reference will be now made to the accompanying drawings, showing by wayof an illustration, particular embodiments thereof and in which:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a jacket and a hood providedwith a connecting arrangement according to the invention;

[0021]FIG. 2 is a partial front view showing a first step of aconnection process between the jacket and the hood;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a similar view to FIG. 2, showing a second step of theconnection process;

[0023]FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, showing a final step ofthe connection process;

[0024]FIG. 5 is a rear view of FIG. 4, once the connection process iscompleted;

[0025]FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the male part of the connectingarrangement;

[0026]FIG. 6A is a transverse cross-sectional view of FIG. 6;

[0027]FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the female part of the connectingarrangement;

[0028]FIG. 7A is a transverse cross-sectional view of FIG. 7;

[0029]FIG. 8 is an elevation view of both connecting parts afterassembly;

[0030]FIG. 9 is a detailed view of FIG. 8;

[0031]FIG. 10 is an elevation view of male and female parts according toa second embodiment;

[0032]FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a jacket/hood connectingarrangement according to a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033]FIG. 1 shows a first article of apparel or garment, such as asport jacket, winter jacket, or windbreaker 1, and a hood 10, which isconstructed so as to be removably connected to the jacket 1.

[0034] The jacket 1 includes a body 2 with sleeves 3 and a collar 4extending vertically from the top end of the jacket to protect the neckof the user.

[0035] The collar 4 has a common longitudinal front opening 5 with thejacket, which is closed by a zipper 7, the zipper 7 being hidden by aflap 8.

[0036] On each side of the opening 5 and flap 8, the collar 4 includes afirst connecting member 100.

[0037] The hood 10 includes a frontal opening 11 which is partiallyclosed in the bottom by front flaps 12.

[0038] Each flap 12 is provided on its internal side with a secondconnecting member 200.

[0039] First and second connecting members, respectively 100, 200,cooperate together to allow a removable connection of the front flaps 12of the hood with the front part of the collar.

[0040] Furthermore, a connection by means of a zipper 9 is provided in amanner known per se, between the hood 10 and the jacket 1 at the rearthereof.

[0041] Such a connection by zipper 9 is depicted more specifically inFIG. 5.

[0042] First and second connecting members 100, 200 are depicted indetail on FIGS. 6-9.

[0043] First connecting member 100 includes a substantially flatrectangular base 101 with a longitudinal female receiving member orsleeve 102, directly attached thereto for receiving an associated rodmember 202 of the second connecting member 200.

[0044] The base 101 can be affixed, for example by stitching, to thecollar 4 of the jacket.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 7A, the sleeve 102 is provided on the sideopposed to the flat base 102 with a longitudinal slit 106 to allow thesleeve 102 to slide with respect to the rod 202.

[0046] Internally, the sleeve 102 includes a substantially cylindricalhousing 103 having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of therod 102 to allow housing of the rod 102 within the sleeve 102, and thelongitudinal slit 106 opens within such a housing 103.

[0047] Transverse flexibility cuts 104 are provided, preferablyregularly, along the entirety of the length of the sleeve 102, or atleast substantially along the entirety of the sleeve, to provide thesleeve with a certain flexibility.

[0048] With this construction, it is guaranteed that the sleeve 102 willnot impart too much rigidity to the collar to which it is attached.

[0049] Depending upon the particular material(s) used for the sleeve, orthe need for flexibility, such cuts 104 can be omitted.

[0050] In a particular embodiment, the sleeve 102 is made of a materialsuch as TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) and, again in a particularnon-limiting embodiment, of a material having a greater rigidity thanthat of the rod. Depending upon the desired ease of release, thematerials of the male and female parts may be of similar or the samerigidity.

[0051] As shown also in FIG. 7, the top of the housing 103 is closed bya wall 108, while the bottom thereof shows a truncated conical entrypart 105 to facilitate entry of the rod part 202.

[0052] In another construction (not shown), the top part of the femaleend is open and the rod part protrudes through the opening in the topand thus also secures the two pieces by preventing one piece from beingpulled away from the other one.

[0053] A slight indent 107 or peripheral groove is also provided at thebottom of the housing 103 in the embodiment illustrated.

[0054] Second connecting member 200 also includes a substantially flatrectangular base 201 and a longitudinal rod 202 attached thereto.

[0055] The base 201 can be affixed by stitching, for example, to theflaps 12 of the hood 10.

[0056] As previously indicated, the rod 202 has a substantiallycylindrical shape with a diameter slightly smaller than that of thehousing 103.

[0057] The top end of the rod 202 has a conical shape 205 to facilitateits entry in the associated conical entry part 105 of the sleeve 102.

[0058] A projecting part 207 is also provided at the bottom of the rod202 to cooperate with the groove 107 at the sleeve 102 and to indicatethe completion of the connecting phase by a snap effect.

[0059] The role of the projecting part 207 and groove 107, or snapelements 107, 207, is also to avoid an unwanted disassembly of bothconnecting members 100, 200. The projecting part and groove part may beplaced in other areas of the assembly.

[0060] The rod 202 is made of a softer material than that of the sleevepart, in a particular embodiment, and, for example, the rod can be madefrom TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) of a lesser hardness. According toa non-limiting example, the TPU of the male part 202 has a durometerhardness of Shore A 75, while the female part 101 has a durometerhardness of Shore A 90. The invention encompasses hardnesses ofdifferent values, as well as different materials.

[0061] Various steps of the assembly phase of connecting the hood 10 tothe jacket are depicted in FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0062] Once the hood 10 and the jacket are assembled at the rear via thezipper 9, both rod parts 202 are introduced from the bottom (see arrows1 in FIG. 2) in each associated sleeve part 102 in an ascendingmovement, the connecting phase being completed when the snapping of theprojecting part 207 occurs in an associated groove 107.

[0063] It will be appreciated that the positions of the sleeve 102 androd 202 may be switched.

[0064] Similarly, materials can also be switched or chosen differently.

[0065] Rod 202 and sleeve 102 can also have different cross-sectionalshapes, such as rectangular, square, triangular, or otherwise.

[0066] An advantage of a circular cross-section is to allow a mutualrotation once the connecting members are assembled. However, differentcross-sectional shapes could provide additional security from the maleand female parts pulling apart.

[0067]FIG. 10 depicts a second embodiment of the rod and sleeve in whichsimilar elements will be referred to by the same reference numerals.

[0068] A primary difference between this second embodiment and thepreviously described embodiment is that each connecting member 100, 200,respectively, has portions of sleeve member 102, rod member 202 of agiven length l, and the successive rod and sleeve portions 202, 102,respectively, are separated by open areas 210, 110, respectively, havinga length L greater than the length l of the rod and sleeve portions.

[0069] With such a construction, the introduction movement of the rodmembers in the sleeve members is effected first by a translationmovement T for introducing each rod member 202 in an associated openarea 110 of the sleeve and then a vertical sliding movement V of eachrod member 202 within a sleeve member 102.

[0070] With such a construction the introduction is easier as itrequires less space (only the length L).

[0071]FIG. 11 depicts a third embodiment in which similar elements willbe referred to by the same reference numerals.

[0072] The embodiment of FIG. 11 is substantially the same as thatdepicted in FIG. 1. A difference is that the hood 10 is devoid of frontflaps 12.

[0073] In such an embodiment, both the first and second connectingmembers 100, 200 are visible from the outside.

[0074] In such a case, both first and second connecting members 100, 200are dyed in a color matching the color of the hood and the jacket, forexample in the same color or in a contrasting color.

[0075] In such a case, a very aesthetic and/or technological appearancecan be achieved.

[0076] While the above invention has been described with reference tocertain particular embodiments, it should be kept in mind that the scopeof the present invention is not limited to these particular embodiments.

[0077] For example, the materials and fasteners can be used on othergarments, shoes, articles, bags, and the like. The embodiments describedabove can also be modified so that some features of one embodiment areused with the features of another embodiment. It is intended that theappended claims cover all such modifications and embodiments as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A connecting arrangement for an article ofapparel, said connecting arrangement comprising: a first apparel itemcomprising first connecting members and a second apparel item comprisingsecond connecting members, said second connecting members beingcomplementary to said first connecting members to allow a removableconnection of said second apparel item to said first apparel item, saidfirst and second connecting members providing a sliding male/female typeconnection.
 2. A connecting arrangement for an article of apparelaccording to claim 1, wherein one of said first and second connectingmembers comprises a sleeve member with a longitudinal slit, and whereinanother of said first and second connecting members comprises a rodmember slidably coupled to the sleeve member for attaching theconnecting arrangement together.
 3. A connecting arrangement for anarticle of apparel according to claim 1, wherein each said first andsecond connecting members comprise attachment parts respectively of saidapparel item and the article of apparel.
 4. A connecting arrangement foran article of apparel according to claim 1, wherein at least one of saidfirst and second connecting members has flexibility cuts.
 5. Aconnecting arrangement for an article of apparel according to claim 1,wherein each first and second connecting members comprise complementaryintroduction parts.
 6. A connecting arrangement for an article ofapparel according to claim 5, wherein complementary introduction partshave conical entry parts.
 7. A connecting arrangement for an article ofapparel according to claim 1, wherein first and second connectingmembers comprise complementary snap elements.
 8. A connectingarrangement for an article of apparel according to claim 2, wherein therod member and the sleeve member have substantially circular crosssections.
 9. A connecting arrangement for an article of apparelaccording to claim 2, wherein the rod member and the sleeve member havenon-circular cross sections.
 10. A connecting arrangement for an articleof apparel according to claim 1, wherein the first apparel item is ajacket and the second apparel item is a hood.
 11. A connectingarrangement for an article of apparel according to claim 1, wherein thefirst apparel item is a jacket and the second apparel item is a pocket.12. A connecting arrangement for an article of apparel according toclaim 1, wherein the first apparel item is a pant and the second apparelitem is a pocket.